Diurnal and seasonal patterns in bee activity reveal climate and vegetation cover interactively influence native-pollinator diversity of the Chihuahuan Desert

This survey of pollinators in the Chihuahuan Desert examined the relationship between two dominant cover shrubs (Creosote Bush and Honey Mesquite) and their pollinator communities. These two shrubs have increased their populations in response to climate change and increased grazing pressure from cattle displacing the native grassland. It was found with an increasing cover of creosote bush that the pollinator communities were larger. This effect extended into periods where creosote was not flowering. Conversely, Honey Mesquite was found to have an opposite effect on the communities. When the communities were broken down into different orders, increasing the cover of creosote had a positive effect on bees, wasps, and beetles but a negative relationship with the number of flies. The mesquite showed an opposite effect on all taxa compared to creosote, specifically increasing fly populations. The exact mechanism of this is not known. However, this may be due to the effects these shrubs have on their surrounding environments, by providing better nesting locations, or providing a more suitable location for other plant species to flower. Shrubs can provide a differential utility to different pollinators on the landscape.